Pearls of Wisdom For Kingdom Living By Pastor George Belobaba

Fire, Faith, Fields

Our world is facing many dangers… so say the politicians, commentators, preachers, and writers. Multitudes of people are in the valley of decision. Multitudes are held captive by ideologies, by various religions, by disease, and by warring factions. The Bible teaches that the whole earth will be filled with God’s glory. Numbers 14:21 says, “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD” (KJV). The Lord is raising up deliverers that are anointed with “the fire of the Holy Spirit,” filled with faith, and directed to the field that the Lord chooses for them.

FIRE

Matthew 3:11… “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (KJV). God is a God of fire. We need a visitation of “fire.” Preachers need an encounter with the God of fire. The need of the world is supernatural power. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 reads, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (NIV). In Exodus 24:9-13, Moses, Aaron, Aaron’s two sons, and seventy elders of Israel went up to the mountain to meet with God. They saw God, and ate and drank in His presence. Moses and Joshua stayed forty days. As the story unfolds, Aaron and the others went down the mount and made a golden calf. Aaron’s sons offered strange fire and were consumed. What happened? Moses later (Deuteronomy 5) tells Israel about the incident, and said that they feared the fire and were sent to their own tents. You’ll never make a golden calf in God’s presence, but you can in your own tents (churches). If you desire the presence of God in your assembly, know this… there is going to be a fire. Hebrews 12:29 says, “Our ‘God is a consuming fire.’” If you say that you love God, God will say, “Let’s go to the fire.” If you say that you want to serve God, God will say, “Let’s go to the fire.” If you want to do the will of God, God will say, “Let’s go to the fire.” In Daniel 3:16-27 the three Hebrews met the Lord in the fire.

Fire speaks of the supernatural. 1 Corinthians 10:3-4 reads, “And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ” (KJV). The word “spiritual” in the RSV reads “supernatural.” We are either supernatural believers or we are not. Romans 8:9 teaches, “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” 1 Peter 2:5 speaks about a “spiritual” house (supernatural). Ephesians 1:3 speaks of “spiritual” blessings (supernatural). Colossians 1:9 speaks about a ”spiritual” mind (supernatural). Galatians 6:1 speaks about “spiritual” ministries (ministries that are responsive to the spirit or to the supernatural). 1 Corinthians 12:1 speaks of “spiritual” gifts (supernatural). Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 speak about “spiritual” songs (supernatural). 1 Corinthians 15:44 speaks about a “spiritual” body (supernatural). The need of the world is spiritual (supernatural). The outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-4 was to produce Spirit-empowered Christians, not just religious ones. Alas, today, too many believers fear the fire.

FAITH

Mark 11:22-24… “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore, I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (KJV). God wants your eyes lifted above the economy, above the hardships that stand up to hinder your progress. This is the day for faith. Hebrews 11:1-3 tells how the Old Testaments elders received a word from God. They believed in what God said, acted on that Word, and changed history. The church today is not changing history. The church is not even able to shape the community around them. Jesus taught in Matthew 6:33, “And he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (NLT). Acts 6:5 reads, “Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost” (KJV). Stephen was able to stand up against the powers of his time. They killed him, but he stood up. Acts 11:24, referring to Barnabas, says, “For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.” Our nation needs leaders who are full of faith. (There is no lack of talk, but there is a lack of faith.)

FIELDS

Matthew 9:36-38… “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (KJV). Notice what the prophets said about missions. Isaiah 60:1-3… “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” Ezekiel 47 teaches how the river of God (the Holy Spirit) flows out to touch lives. Hosea 2:21-23 tells how the earth will hear the corn and the wine and the oil (or the Word, the Spirit and the anointing). Amos 9:11-15 tells how the tabernacle of David reaches the Gentiles (the unredeemed peoples of the world–see also Acts 15:16-17). The prophet Jonah went to Nineveh, and a whole city turned to God. Micah 4:1-2 speaks about people running to hear the word of the Lord. Habukkuk 2:14 tells that the whole earth will be filled with the glory of the Lord.

The key to the fields is found in Zechariah 1:1-17. First, prayer (v. 3), second, preaching the prophetic word (v. 4), third, ministries that God sends (v. 10), fourth, establishing truth (v. 13), fifth, building the house of the Lord (v. 16), and sixth, reaching out (v. 17). Mark 16:15-20… “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen” (KJV). Note verse 20… “The Lord working with them.”